'School of Rock' TV Series Coming to Nickelodeon

August 05, 2014 00:18:06 GMT

The cable network ordered a straight-to-series version of the Paramount film to debut in spring 2015.

More than a decade after it first hit the big screen, "The School of Rock" is revived as a TV series. Nickelodeon is teaming up with Paramount to adapt the Jack Black-starrer into a live-action musical comedy that runs for 13 episodes in its debut season.

Like the movie, the TV series will center on the character played by Black. Dewey Finn is the penniless rock star who becomes a substitute teacher in a prestigious prep school, teaching the students to love rock n' roll in an unconventional way. "With Dewey's outrageous personality and rock star sensibilities taking center stage, 'School of Rock' will be an irresistibly fun show for the whole family," Paramount TV president Amy Powell said.

Original "School of Rock" director Richard Linklater and producer Scott Rudin are also involved in the straight-to-series project as executive producers. Jim and Steve Armogida were appointed as writers, exec producers and showrunners. Casting will be announced soon with production scheduled to begin in fall for a spring 2015 premiere.

"School of Rock is one of those great movies that always felt quintessentially Nickelodeon in its tone and humor, and we jumped at the opportunity to partner with Paramount Television and bring it to life as a TV series," said Russell Hicks, president of content and development at Nick.

"School of Rock" is the latest TV mine into Paramount's movie library. The studio is also planning a TV series based on "Ghost", "The Truman Show" and "Terminator".